Handle



Feb. 22, 1944. Y s JOHNSON 2,342,405

HANDLE Filed June 2, 1941 1% 1% 71 22 7 I ,J Z INVENTOR. ff. Z51 BY fi BZZT Lie/51597601) A T RNEYS.

Patented Feb. 22, 1944 HANDLE Robert S. Johnson, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to Keeler Mich.

Brass Company,

Grand Rapids,

Application June 2, i941, Serial No. 396,255

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a handle.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a handle, remote control, drawer pull or like hardware which may be formed with highly ornamental characteristics with substantially no exposed metal parts, and at the same time is strong and durable.

Second, to provide a handle or the like having these advantages in which the parts are economically produced and assembled.

Third, to provide a method of manufacturing handles or hardware embodying these advantages which may be economically practiced on a large scale or a moderate scale.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of the invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of the invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an automobile door handle embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on line 2-2 of Figs. 3 and 6, the handle ;bar or core being shown mainly in full lines.

Fig. 3 is an inverted or inside plan view.

Figs. 4, and 6 are enlarged transverse sectional views taken on lines 4-4, 55 and 6-6, respectively, of Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 isa fragmentary sectional view illustrating steps in practicing the method of my invention.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown an embodiment of my invention as adapted for automobile door handles. The structure comprises a handle bar or core I of rectangular section and of suitably curved outline 1ongitudinally. At the base the handle bar has a spindle socket member 2 secured thereto, the socket member having a laterally projecting flange 3. The socket member is adapted to receive a spindle or chill, not illustrated.

The casing member 4 is formed of thermoplastic material. Tenite has been found very suitable although there areother suitable plastics. This casing member is formed of channel or hollow section and has a longitudinal recess 5 at the top thereof fittingly receiving the outer edge 0f the handle bar. By reference to Fig. '7 it will be noted that the casing member has skirtlike extensions 6 on the walls thereof which are adapted to be folded around the core and the anchoring member I. This anchoring member I is of channel section shaped to fittingly receive the inner edge of the core and terminating in rearwardly curved flanges 8 forming rearwardly facing grooves 9.

The portions 6 of the-casing member are plastically or heat molded around the inner side of the core member and its anchoring member to embed the flanges 8 and force the portions of the casing material indicated at I!) into the grooves 9, see Figs. 4 and 5. The casing has an enlargement I I at its base embracing the flange II and molded thereon as indicated at I2; that is, the edges of the flanges are embedded in the plastic casing.

The anchoring member is also provided in the web portion thereof with ears or lugs 2| spaced along the anchoring member and projecting in opposite directions so that the edges or side walls of the casing member are curved inwardly toward each other. These ears are embedded adjacent the edges of the casing and form a very effective interlock therefor, so that when the plastic material cools or sets, it is very securely anchored.

In assembling, the casing with the core and anchoring member arranged therein is positioned in a die member I3 having a recess I l conformed to receive the casing with the skirt portions 5 projecting therefrom. The coacting die member I 5 is provided with a face having a central curved portion I6 and beveled edge portion I1.

With the parts assembled in the die members, the die members are gradually closed. At least one of the die members is preferably provided with a suitable heating unit I8, an electric unit being illustrated although a gas or otherwise heated die may be employed, or the casing may be preheated or plasticized as to the portions operated upon prior to placing in the die. Where a heated die member is used, the die members are gradually closed, the closing being timed with the heating so that the portions 6 are suitably plasticized and plastically molded or bent around the core and its anchoring member embedding the edges of the anchoring member in the casing material and forcing the casing material as indicated at ID in the grooves. The cars or lugs 2| are also embedded in the plasticized material so that they have a thorough interlock with the anchoring member, the interlock consisting of the embedded edges, the interlocking material I!) formed into the grooves9, and the interlocking lugs or ears 2|.

The edges I9 are brought into abutting relation as shown at 20, forming a very closeinconspicuous. joint and if desired to carry the.

heating to that extent, a'heat fused autogenous joint may be provided. In any event, the abutting ends may be forced very firmly together by the die and the material may be sufiiciently plastic or softened to provide a close inconspicuous joint without an actual fused bonding and the casing is securely locked and retained upon the handle bar or core member.

I have illustrated my invention as embodied in a door handle but I desire to point out that it may be readily embodied for remote controls, drawer pulls, and various hardware. The plastic material is available in many colors, matching the color schemes or trim of automobiles, furniture and the like. There areno exposed metal parts requiring finishing or polishing. Further, the invention results in great saving of metals now in demand for other purposes. The structure is strong and durable, and may be easily and economically assembled.

It should be understood that the foregoing terminology is used descriptively rather than in a limiting sense, and with full intention to include equivalents of the features shown and described, within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a handle, the combination of a handle bar, a casin anchoring member channeled to receive the inner edge of said bar and having laterally disposed rearwardly' curved flanges projecting at the sides of the handle bar and providing rearwardly facing grooves and having laterally diverging anchoring lugs projecting from the-web thereof, and a preformed'hollow casing member formed of thermoplastic; material conformed to embrace said handle bar and having the side walls thereof extended around said anchoring member and into said channels thereof with the edges of the anchoring member flanges embedded inthe casing material; the edges of the casing member walls in abutting relation centrally of the inner side of the handle and with said lugs embedded adjacent the edges of the casing member.

2. In a handle, the combination of a handle bar, a casing anchoring member channeled to receive the inner edge of said bar and, having laterally disposed rearwardl' curved flanges projecting at the sides of the handle bar and providing rearwardly facing grooves, and a preformed hollow casing member formedofthermoplastic material conformed toembrace said handle bar and having the side Walls thereof extended around said anchoring member and into said channels thereof with the edges Of the anchoring member flanges embedded in the casing material.

3. In a handle, the combination of ahandle bar, a casing anchorin member engaging the inner edge of said bar and having flanges projecting at the sides ofthe handle bar,- and a preformed hollow casing member formed of thermoplastic material conformed to embrace said-handle bar and having the side walls-thereof extended around said anchoring member with the edges of the anchoring member flanges embedded in the casing material and with the edges ofthe casing member walls joined to one another centrall cf the inner side of the handle.

4. In a handle, the combination of a handle bar, a casing anchoring member engaging the inner edge of said bar and having flanges pro-- jecting at the sides of the handle bar; and a preformed hollow casing member formed of thermoplastic material conformed to embrace said handle bar and having the side walls thereof extended around said anchoring member with the edges of the anchoring member flanges embedded in the casing material.

5. In a door handle, the combination of a core, a casing anchoringmember formed of sheet metal positioningly engaged with said core and having projecting flanges, and a preformed casing member of thermoplastic material embracing said core having walls extended and conformed to embed said anchoring member flanges therein.

6. In a door handle, the combination of a core, a casing anchoring member engaged with said core and conformed to provide rearwardly facing .grooves, and a casing member preformed of thermoplastici material embracing said core having walls. extended into said grooves of said anchoring member.

7. In a door handle, the combination of a core, a casing anchoring member engaged with said core and having projecting parts, and. a casing member preformed of thermoplastic material embracing said core having walls extended to embed said projecting parts ofsaid anchoring member.

8. In a door handle, the combination of a handle bar, a casing anchoring member engaged with said handle bar and having flanges projecting at the sides of the handle bar and conformed to provide rearwardly facing channels, said an choring member beingv provided with divergingly disposed anchoring lugs, and a preformed casing member of thermoplastic material embracing saidv handle bar and having the side walls thereof extended upon said anchoring member with the edges of the anchoringmember flanges embedded in the material and extended into said channels thereof and with the edges of, the' casing member walls in abuttingfrelation and with said anchoring lugs embedded adjacent the edges of the casingmember.

9. In a door handle, the combination of a handle bar, a casing anchoring member engaged with said handle bar and having flanges projecting at the sides of the handle bar andcentrally disposed anchoring lugs projecting from the bot tom thereof, and a preformed casing member of thermoplastic material embracing said handle bar and having the side walls, thereof extended upon saidanchoring member with the edges of the anchoring member flanges embedded in the material and with the edges of the casing member walls in abutting relation and with said anchoring lugs embedded adjacent the edges of the casing member.

10. In a door handle, the combination of a core member, a casing anchoring memberassociated,

with said core member and provided with anchoring lugs, and a preformed casingmember of thermoplastic material embracing said core member and having the side walls thereof extended upon said anchoringmember with said anchoring lugs embedded therein adjacent the edges of the casing member, the edges of the casing member walls being in abutting relation.

11. Ina door handle, the combination of a core member, provided with casing anchoring means, and a preformed casing member of thermoplastic material embracing said core member having side walls conformed to position the edges thereof in abutting relation, there beinganchoring means; on, said. core, member. embedded in said casing walls adjacent the edges, thereof.

12. In a door handle, the combination of a core member provided with casing anchoring core member provided with projecting casing anmeans, and a preformed casing member of therchoring means, and a preformed casing member moplastic material arranged on said core member of thermoplastic material arranged on said core having side walls extended thereunder and emmember having side walls extended thereon and 5 bedding said anchoring means. embedding said anchoring means.

13. In a door handle, the combination of a ROBERT S. JOHNSON. 

